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AL SAYS, "THANK YOU"

Posted on Mar 12, 2018 10:30am PDT

Dear Lucas,

This has been a tough few months. I can't tell you how hard it was
to step away from serving in the United States Senate - the best job I've ever had.

And I can't tell you how much it's meant to me, to Franni, and
to our family to hear from so many supporters wishing us well and telling
us that you're still ready to fight for the progressive values we share.

As I said on the day I announced my resignation from the Senate, I might
be giving up my seat in that chamber, but I'm not giving up my voice.
I'm going to keep fighting for those values, too.

But, today, I just wanted to write to say
thank you.

Thank you for taking a chance on me more than a decade ago when I stepped up to
run for the Senate - and helping me to win that first race by just 312 votes.

Thank you for fighting alongside me every step of the way for the progressive values
we share: values like justice, equality, integrity, and honesty.

Thank you for making it possible to practice a politics focused, as my hero Paul
Wellstone put it, on
improving people's lives.

I am so proud of the progress we've made together. From passing the
Affordable Care Act and extending health insurance to tens of millions
of families to pairing veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with
service dogs that make their days a little easier. From defending net
neutrality and fighting back against media consolidation to asking the
tough questions in hearings and exposing the corruption and incompetence
of the Trump administration.

And I know that there is a lot more progress to be made in the months
and years ahead. We have to fight this administration and its far-right
agenda. We have to take back power in this year's midterm elections
(starting with re-electing Minnesota's two fine senators, Tina Smith
and Amy Klobuchar) so we can finally hold this President accountable.
We have to stand up for our progressive values, stand up for middle-class
families - and stand up for the truth.

I know that you are going to keep fighting to make that progress. And
I want you to know that I'm going to be right there alongside you,
every step of the way.

As hard as it is not to be there in the Senate right now, I still believe,
as Paul Wellstone did, that the future belongs to those who are passionate
and work hard. I'm still as passionate as ever about the values we
share. I look forward to continuing the hard work we've done together
to move our country forward.

And, most of all, I am deeply grateful for your friendship and your support.

Thank you,

Al

P.S.: Over the last few weeks, I've heard from a lot of people who
want to know what I'm doing next and how they can help. It's a
good question, and one I'm not quite ready to answer yet. For the
moment, I'm enjoying spending time with Franni, our healthy and brilliant
kids, and our adorable grandkids - and feeling very lucky to have them
in my life. But I do want to thank you for being there for me during this
difficult time. And I hope that, like me, you'll continue to look
for ways to stay involved during this critical election year.